Marianne Kitany Distances Herself From Fake Fertiliser Scandal: "My Brother To Carry His Own Cross"

• Aldai MP Marianne Kitany's brother was linked to the fake fertiliser scandal distributed to farmers largely in the North Rift counties
• Kitany stated the brother, Collins Kipchumba, should face charges as an individual if he is found guilty of being involved in the scandal
• The UDA lawmaker had earlier in an interview asked President William Ruto to sack Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi

Aldai MP Marianne Kitany has stronly denied that she is involved in the fake fertiliser scandal.

Who is Marianne Kitany's brother ?

Kitany's brother Collins Kipchumba had been mentioned as one of the individuals allegedly behind the fake fertiliser.

However, speaking to K24 TV on Wednesday April 17, the first-time MP said she could not be prosecuted over crimes allegedly committed by Kipchumba.

She added that it would fair if her sibling was charged individually if indeed he was implicated in the scam.

''Everybody to carry their own cross and not dragging people names in issues you know are actually your issues. My brother and I are two different people,'' Kitany said.

According to her, the brother should be charged if he was involved in the fake fertiliser scandal with the Ministry of Agriculture officials.

''If he decided to go and sit down with the Ministry of Agriculture and do fraudulent issues, that is their problem. They should answer to the charges as we are all individuals and I'm not involved at all,'' she further stated.

Kitany asks Ruto to sack Mithika Linturi

In March, Kitany had called on President William Ruto to sack Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi over the scandal terming it as economic sabotage.

She reiterated the fertiliser subsidy as core to the president, and the presence of fake fertiliser in the country will have long lasting negative effects to the farmer.

''This is economic sabotage. This farmer will not plant for eight years because some decided to put sand and a lot of urea as required in order to be rich. I think the lead at the front, he needs to take action that is required of him,'' Kitany said.

Farmers to be compensated over fake fertiliser

While commissioning the Clinker Plant in West Pokot weeks ago, Ruto had ordered all farmers affected by the fake fertiliser to be compensated in totality, as the individuals involved to face charges.

Linturi had dismissed claims of existence of fake fertiliser in the country. He clarified the fertiliser distributed by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) was short of the standards required.

What you need to know about fake fertiliser scandal

• Government admitted existence of fake fertiliser in the country
• Kenya Bureau of standards (KEBS) suspended officials implicated to the fake fertiliser
• Senate probed the existence of fake fertiliser through samples delivered in the country
• Court stopped the arrest of businessman linked to fake fertiliser

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.